Hoyer: Bush Vetoes Domestic Priorities While Spending More on His Failing Policy in Iraq

For Immediate Release:

November 13, 2007

Contact Info:

Stacey Farnen Bernards(202) 225 - 3130

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) released the following statement after President Bush vetoed the Labor-Health-Education Appropriations bill this morning:

“The President's veto of this critical legislation that addresses domestic priorities such as health care, education, and medical research is the clearest possible demonstration of his misguided priorities and hollow rhetoric on fiscal responsibility.

“It is patently absurd that President Bush – whose irresponsible policies instigated record budget deficits and added more than $3 trillion to the national debt – now wants to pretend that he is somehow an exemplar of fiscal responsibility. It is no small irony that President Bush has chosen to instigate a fight over a $23 billion difference with Democrats on the annual spending bills, while he is demanding $200 billion more in spending for his failing policy in Iraq – all of it added to the deficit, none of it paid for. This veto comes on the same morning that the Joint Economic Committee released a report detailing the high hidden costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and estimating that the real cost of the Iraq war alone is nearing $1.3 trillion.

“The American people see right through the President’s words and know that he is doing nothing more than posturing, pure and simple. Democrats will attempt to override the President's unjustified veto this week, urging Republicans to join us and the American people in making these vital investments in our nation and our future.”